Refrigerator

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator. In the refrigerator, a water purifying unit including a filter unit to purify water supplied from a water supply source is arranged adjacent to a drawer type storage container in an otherwise useless space of a storage compartment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.application Ser. No. 14/570,905 filed Dec. 15, 2014, which is aContinuation application of application Ser. No. 12/659,461 filed Mar.9, 2010, and claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0020227, filed on Mar. 10, 2009 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0016952 filedon Feb. 25, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, thedisclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator includinga water purifying unit to supply purified water into a dispenser and/oricemaker.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a refrigerator is an appliance designed to supplylow-temperature cold air into a storage compartment in which food isstored, thus keeping the food fresh at a low temperature. Therefrigerator includes a freezing compartment in which food is kept at afreezing temperature or lower, and a refrigerating compartment in whichfood is kept at a temperature slightly above the freezing temperature.

Recently, a variety of large-scale refrigerators have been brought tomarket in consideration of convenience and need for additional storagespace. Examples of these refrigerators include, e.g., a general typerefrigerator in which a freezing compartment is defined in an upperregion thereof, a double door type refrigerator in which a freezingcompartment is defined in a left or right region thereof, and a combinedtype refrigerator in which a freezing compartment is defined in a lowerregion thereof.

Some of the above-mentioned refrigerators include a dispenser todischarge beverages from a front side of a door, or an icemaker to makeice within a storage compartment.

These refrigerators conventionally include a water supply system tosupply water to the dispenser provided at the front side of the door orthe icemaker within a freezing compartment, a water purifying filer topurify the water to be supplied, and a water tank in which the purifiedwater is stored.

The water purifying filter and water tank are separated from each other.The water tank is mainly provided in the rear of a refrigeratingcompartment, and the water purifying filter is provided in one side ofan upper region of the refrigerating compartment.

Accordingly, a storage compartment of conventional refrigerators mayinclude a space for installation of the water purifying filter and watertank. This results in deterioration in space utility of the storagecompartment and makes it difficult for a user to access the waterpurifying filter upon replacement thereof.

Further, a heater may be provided to prevent the water tank provided inthe rear of the refrigerating compartment from freezing due to cold air,resulting in increased manufacturing costs.

Furthermore, when the water supply system is provided independently ofthe water purifying filter and water tank, a water supply pipe connectedtherebetween has an increased length and thus, the water supply systemhas a complicated configuration.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide arefrigerator including a water purifying unit, which may assureeffective use of a storage space and simplified configuration of a watersupply system provided in the refrigerator.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigeratorincluding a water purifying unit, which may assure easy replacement of afilter provided in the water purifying unit, resulting in enhanced userconvenience and reliability of a water supply system upon replacement ofthe filter.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achievedby providing a refrigerator including a body defining a storagecompartment, a drawer type storage container provided in the storagecompartment to be pulled out of the storage compartment, and a waterpurifying unit including a case and a filter unit provided in the caseand serving to purify water supplied from a water supply source, and thewater purifying unit is provided between the storage container and onesidewall of the storage compartment.

The drawer type storage container may be formed in one side surfacethereof with a receiving recess to receive the water supply unittherein.

The filter unit may include a filter assembly to be pushed into orpulled out of the case, and a valve assembly to control supply of waterto the filter assembly based on whether the filter assembly is pushed inor pulled out.

The filter assembly may be separably coupled to the valve assembly.

The case may include a filter receiving region for insertion of thefilter assembly upon separation or coupling thereof, and an entrance ofthe filter receiving space is exposed from the storage container.

The filter assembly may include a plug to be inserted into the valveassembly and a coupling protrusion formed at an outer peripheral surfaceof the plug, and the valve assembly may include a socket into which theplug is inserted and a holding protrusion formed at an inner peripheralsurface of the socket and configured to be caught and supported by thecoupling protrusion when the plug is inserted into and is rotated in thesocket.

The valve assembly may include a valve housing having an inlet path andan outlet path and a valve unit reciprocally movably provided in thevalve housing, and a bypass path may be defined in the valve housing tocommunicate the inlet path and the outlet path with each other as thevalve unit is moved upon separation of the filter assembly.

The water purifying unit may further include a water tank unit in whichthe water purified by the filter unit is stored.

The filter unit may include a filter assembly to be pushed into orpulled out of the case, and a valve assembly to control supply of waterto the filter assembly and/or the water tank unit based on whether thefilter assembly is pushed in or pulled out.

The filter unit may include an inlet path through which the watersupplied from the water supply source is introduced, and an outlet paththrough which the water introduced through the inlet path is dischargedafter being purified, and the outlet path may communicate with an inlethole of the water tank unit through which the purified water isintroduced.

The water purifying unit may further include an inlet pipe through whichthe water is supplied into the filter unit, and an outlet pipe throughwhich the purified water is discharged from the water tank unit, andconnector units coupling the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe may beprovided at one side of a rear wall of the storage compartment.

The refrigerator may further include a door to open or close the storagecompartment, a dispenser provided at the door, and a water supply systemto supply the water to the dispenser, and the water supply system mayinclude a first water supply pipe to connect the water supply source andthe filter unit to each other, and a second water supply pipe to connectthe water tank unit and the dispenser to each other.

The storage compartment may be divided into an upper refrigeratingcompartment and a lower freezing compartment by a horizontal partition,and the drawer type storage container may be located under a storagecontainer cover provided in a lower region of the refrigeratingcompartment.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achievedby providing a refrigerator including a body including an upperrefrigerating compartment and a lower freezing compartment, a pluralityof drawer-type storage containers provided in the refrigeratingcompartment to be pulled out of the refrigerating compartment, and awater purifying unit including a case, and a filter unit provided in thecase and to purify water supplied from a water supply source, and thewater purifying unit being provided in a space between the plurality ofdrawer type storage containers.

The plurality of drawer type storage containers may be located under astorage container cover provided in a lower region of the refrigeratingcompartment, and the water purifying unit may function as a separatingwall to separate the plurality of storage containers from each otherunder the storage container cover.

The water purifying unit may be provided in the center of a receivingspace under the storage container cover, and the plurality of drawertype storage containers may be provided respectively in left and rightspaces divided by the water purifying unit.

The case may be provided at both side surfaces thereof with guide railsto guide entrance and exit of the storage containers.

The water purifying unit may further include a water tank unit in whichthe water purified by the filter unit is stored.

The water purifying unit may further include a connecting pipe toconnect an outlet path, through which the water purified by the filterunit is discharged, to an inlet hole of the water tank unit.

The filter unit may include a filter assembly containing a filter, and avalve assembly to which the filter assembly is separably coupled.

The valve assembly may supply the water supplied from the water supplysource to the filter assembly when the filter assembly is coupled to thevalve assembly, and may supply the water supplied from the water supplysource to the water tank unit when the filter assembly is separated fromthe valve assembly.

The water purifying unit may further include an inlet pipe through whichthe water is supplied into the filter unit, and an outlet pipe throughwhich the purified water is discharged from the water tank unit, andconnector units coupling of the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe may beprovided at one side of a rear wall of the refrigerating compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of arefrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an open state of arefrigerating compartment of the refrigerator according to theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the refrigerator according tothe embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a water purifyingunit of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the portion ‘C’ of FIG. 4, illustrating afilter assembly separated from a valve assembly of a filter unit of FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a configuration to install the waterpurifying unit into the refrigerating compartment according to theembodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an installation configuration of the waterpurifying unit of the refrigerator according to another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a valve assembly ofa water purifying unit provided in a refrigerator according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a water purifying unit of arefrigerator according to a further embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a pulled out state of a watersump member of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Theembodiments are described below to explain the present invention byreferring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic externalappearance of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an open stateof a refrigerating compartment of the refrigerator according to theembodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator according to the embodimentof the present invention includes a body 10, storage compartments 11 and12 defined separately in upper and lower regions of the body 10 and eachhaving an open front side, and doors 20 and 21 to open or close the openfront side of the respective storage compartments 11 and 12.

The storage compartments 11 and 12 are upper and lower compartmentsseparated from each other by a horizontal partition 13. The uppercompartment serves as a refrigerating compartment 11 for refrigerationstorage of food, and the lower compartment serves as a freezingcompartment 12 to store food at freezing temperatures.

The refrigerating compartment 11 is provided in an upper region thereofwith a shelf 18 on which food is placed and also, in a lower regionthereof, with a drawer type storage container 19 in which food sensitiveto moisture, such as vegetables, etc., is received.

The drawer type storage container 19 has an open upper side for entranceand exit of food. The drawer type storage container 19 is supported byguide rails 14 (see FIG. 6) provided at sidewalls 16 of therefrigerating compartment 11, to be pulled out or pushed into therefrigerating compartment 11.

A plurality of the drawer type storage containers 19 may be providedbased on food receiving spaces. In the present embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2, two drawer type storage containers 19 may be provided in leftand right spaces divided by a separating wall 15 in the lower region ofthe refrigerating compartment 11, to be slidably pulled out or pushedinto the refrigerating compartment 11.

An ice-making unit 30 may be provided in one side of the upper region ofthe refrigerating compartment 11. The ice-making unit 30 may beinstalled in a space confined by an insulating wall.

The doors 20 and 21 include refrigerating compartment doors 20 to openor close the refrigerating compartment 11, and a freezing compartmentdoor 21 to open or close the freezing compartment 12.

The freezing compartment door 21 is of a drawer type and opens or closesthe freezing compartment 12 via sliding movement thereof. Therefrigerating compartment doors 20 are a pair of doors hingedly coupledto left and right sides of the body 10.

The refrigerating compartment doors 20 are provided with a plurality ofdoor guards 23 in which articles, such as beverages, are received. Also,one of the refrigerating compartment doors 20 is provided with adispenser 40 to allow a user to discharge purified water from theoutside.

The dispenser 40, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a water discharge space41 indented rearward from a front surface of the refrigeratingcompartment door 20 by a predetermined depth. A water discharge hole 43is located at the top of the water discharge space 41.

The water discharge space 41 is provided with an operating lever 45 toinitiate a water discharge operation.

In addition, a water supply system 50 to supply water to the waterdischarge hole 43 is provided in the body 10 and the refrigeratingcompartment door 20.

The water supply system 50 includes water supply pipes 53 and 54 toguide water supplied from an external water supply source 51 to thewater discharge hole 43, a water supply valve 55 to control the supplyof water, and a water purifying unit 100. The water purifying unit 100includes a filter unit 120 and a water tank unit 170 for purificationand storage of the supplied water.

One side of the water supply valve 55 is connected to the water supplysource 51 via a connecting pipe 56, and the other side is connected tothe filter unit 120 of the water purifying unit 100 via the first watersupply pipe 53. The water tank unit 170 of the water purifying unit 100is connected to the water discharge hole 43 via the second water supplypipe 54.

For utility of an interior space of the refrigerating compartment 11,the water purifying unit 100, as shown in FIG. 3, may be located betweenthe storage container 19 provided in the lower region of therefrigerating compartment 11 and one sidewall 16 of the refrigeratingcompartment 11.

The storage container 19 is located under a storage container cover 60provided in the lower region of the refrigerating compartment 11. Thestorage container cover 60 is supported by both the sidewalls 16 of therefrigerating compartment 11 to divide the interior space of therefrigerating compartment 11, thus providing a food storage spacethereabove while shielding the open upper side of the storage container19 therebelow.

The above-described storage container cover 60 may be partially made ofa transparent material to enable confirmation of food received in thestorage container 19.

One side surface of the storage container 19 adjacent to one sidewall 16of the refrigerating compartment 11 is formed with a receiving recess 19a to receive the water purifying unit 100 therein.

The receiving recess 19 a has a shape corresponding to a contour of thewater purifying unit 100. Thus, when the water purifying unit 100 isprovided between the storage container 19 and one sidewall 16 of therefrigerating compartment 11, the water purifying unit 100 is disposedin contact with the receiving recess 19 a.

The above-described configuration may prevent a reduction in a storagespace of the refrigerating compartment 11 caused when the filter unit120 and the water tank unit 170 are installed separately. In the presentembodiment, since the water purifying unit 100 is provided in a uselessspace between the storage container 19 and one sidewall 16 of therefrigerating compartment 11 and a case 110 of the water purifying unit100 is surrounded by the storage container 19, the refrigeratingcompartment 11 has enhanced space utility and superior externalappearance.

Although the present embodiment illustrates the receiving recess 19 a inwhich the water purifying unit 100 is received as being formed in thestorage container 19, the receiving recess 19 a may naturally be formedin one sidewall 16 of the refrigerating compartment 11, or formed inboth the sidewall 16 of the refrigerating compartment 11 and the storagecontainer 19.

Also, although the present embodiment illustrates the water purifyingunit 100, in the case 110 of which the filter unit 120 and the watertank unit 170 are received, as being provided between the storagecontainer 19 and one sidewall 16 of the refrigerating compartment 11,only the filter unit 120 may naturally be provided in the case 110.

If the water purifying unit 100 having the water tank unit 170 isprovided between the storage container 19 and one sidewall 16 of therefrigerating compartment 11, there is a reduced possibility of waterstored in a water tank freezing due to cold air as compared to anassumption that the water tank is installed to a rear wall 17 of therefrigerating compartment 11. Therefore, a heater to prevent freezing ofwater stored in the water tank may be unnecessary.

Also, if the filter unit 120 and the water tank unit 170 are integrallyprovided in the water purifying unit 100, a more significantlysimplified assembly configuration of the water supply system 50 may beaccomplished as compared to a conventional configuration wherein afilter unit and a water tank unit are installed separately.

Although the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the presentembodiment includes the water purifying unit 100 provided between thestorage container 19 and one sidewall 16 of the refrigeratingcompartment 11, the refrigerator is not limited thereto. As shown inFIG. 7, if the storage containers 19 are provided respectively at leftand right sides of the separating wall (15, see FIG. 2), the function ofthe separating wall 15 may be replaced by the water purifying unit 100.

Specifically, the water purifying unit 100 may be provided in the centerof a receiving space under the storage container cover 60, in which thestorage containers 19 are received, thus serving to divide the receivingspace into left and right spaces and allowing the respective storagecontainers 19 to be pulled out or pushed into the divided left and rightspaces.

Accordingly, a useless space of the separating wall 15 used to separatethe plurality of storage containers 19 from each other is replaced bythe water purifying unit 100, resulting in a further enhancement inspace utility.

In this case, the guide rails 14 to guide entrance and exit of thestorage containers 19 may be provided at both side surfaces of the waterpurifying unit 100 provided in the plurality of storage containers 19.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view schematically illustrating the waterpurifying unit of the refrigerator according to the embodiment, and FIG.5 is an enlarged view of the portion ‘C’ of FIG. 4, illustrating afilter assembly separated from a valve assembly of the filter unit.

Referring to FIG. 4, the water purifying unit 100 includes the case 110,the filter unit 120 to purify water supplied from the external watersupply source 51, and the water tank unit 170 in which the waterpurified by the filter unit 120 is stored.

The filter unit 120 and the water tank unit 170 are receivedrespectively in the case 110. Although the present embodimentillustrates the water tank unit 170 as being located above the filterunit 120 in the case 110, the water tank unit 170 may naturally belocated under the filter unit 120.

The filter unit 120 includes a filter assembly 130 to be pushed into orpulled out of the case 110, and a valve assembly 140 to control thesupply of water to both the filter assembly 130 and the water tank unit170 based on whether the filter assembly 130 is pushed in or pulled out.

Specifically, when the filter assembly 130 is pushed into the case 110to thereby be coupled to the valve assembly 140, the valve assembly 140supplies the water supplied from the water supply source 51 to thefilter assembly 130. When the filter assembly 130 is pulled out of thecase 110 to thereby be separated from the valve assembly 140, the valveassembly 140 supplies the water supplied from the water supply source 51to the water tank unit 170.

The filter assembly 130 includes a filter housing 131 and a filter 135received in the filter housing 131.

The filter housing 131 takes the form of a cylinder having an open end.The filter 135, both sides of which are supported by caps 136, isinserted into the filter housing 131 through the open end of the filterhousing 131. A handle 132 is fitted into the open end of the filterhousing 131 to close the open end of the filter housing 131.

The other end of the filter housing 131 is provided with a plug 133 andin turn, the plug 133 is inserted into the valve assembly 140. The plug133 is formed at an outer peripheral surface thereof with couplingprotrusions 134 coupling the valve assembly 140.

The valve assembly 140 includes a valve housing 150 and a valve unit 160reciprocally movably provided in the valve housing 150, the valve unit160 to control the supply of water to the filter assembly 130 and/or thewater tank unit 170.

The valve housing 150 is formed in one side thereof with an inlet path151 for introduction of the water supplied from the water supply source51 and an outlet path 153 for discharge of the water purified by thefilter unit 120. In addition, the other side of the valve housing 150 isprovided with a socket 155, into which the plug 133 of the filterassembly 130 is inserted.

The inlet path 151 is connected to the first water supply pipe 53through an inlet pipe 115 and thus, the water supplied from the watersupply source 51 is introduced into the inlet path 151 through the firstwater supply pipe 53.

The socket 155 is formed at an inner peripheral surface thereof withholding protrusions 157 to be caught and supported by the couplingprotrusions 134 of the plug 133 when the plug 133 is inserted into thesocket 155 and is rotated by 90 degrees.

With the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, if thehandle 132 is rotated in a given direction by 90 degrees after thefilter assembly 130 is inserted into a filter receiving region 111 ofthe case 110, the coupling protrusions 134 of the filter assembly 130are caught and supported by the holding protrusions 157 of the valveassembly 140, completing the installation of the filter assembly 130.Upon replacement of the filter assembly 130, the filter assembly 130 isseparable from the case 110 as the handle 132 is pulled out after beingrotated in an opposite direction.

Although the present embodiment illustrates the coupling protrusions 134and holding protrusions 157 as elements to couple or separate the filterassembly 130 to or from the valve assembly 140, this is given only byway of example, and other known elements, such as, e.g., latches orhooks, may be provided.

Under the assumption that the water purifying unit 100 according to thepresent embodiment is provided between the storage container 19 and onesidewall 16 of the storage compartment 11, as shown in FIG. 3, the case110 of the water purifying unit 100 is surrounded by the storagecontainer 19 so as not to be exposed to the outside. However, anentrance (113, see FIG. 6) of the filter receiving region 111 defined inthe case 110 is exposed from the storage container 19 to allow thefilter assembly 130 to be pushed in or pulled out.

Specifically, when the filter assembly 130 is inserted into the filterreceiving region 111 of the filter housing 131, only the handle 132 ofthe filter assembly 130 is exposed when viewed from the front of therefrigerating compartment 11, resulting in an improved externalappearance.

With the above-described configuration, moreover, the user may accessthe filter assembly 130 for replacement thereof more easily than in aconventional filter provided in the upper region of the refrigeratingcompartment 11, resulting in enhanced user convenience.

The valve assembly 140, as shown in FIG. 5, has a bypass path A toprevent leakage of water from the valve housing 150 upon separation ofthe filter assembly 130. The bypass path A is created by the valve unit160 reciprocally movably provided in the valve housing 150.

Specifically, when the filter assembly 130 is separated from the valveassembly 140, a first communicating path 161 and a second communicatingpath 163 are closed respectively by shutter members 165. Here, the firstcommunicating path 161 communicates the inlet path 151 and the filterassembly 130 with each other, and the second communicating path 163communicates the outlet path 153 and the filter assembly 130 with eachother.

More specifically, as the shutter members 165 are pressed toward thefilter assembly 130 by elastic members 167, the first and secondcommunicating paths 161 and 163 are closed respectively by first sealingmembers 166 provided at outer peripheral surfaces of the shutter members165. Also, as the valve unit 160 is moved leftward in a directionrepresented by the arrows B under the influence of a pressure of thewater introduced through the inlet path 151, the bypass path A forcommunication between the inlet path 151 and the outlet path 153 iscreated.

On the other hand, when the filter assembly 130 is coupled to the valveassembly 140, as shown in FIG. 4, the filter assembly 130 presses thevalve unit 160 and the shutter members 165, thus causing the bypass pathA to be closed by second sealing members 169 while opening the first andsecond communicating paths 161 and 163.

With the above-described configuration, even if the water supply system50 is operated during replacement of the filter assembly 130, it mayeffectively prevent water from being supplied to the filter assembly 130and consequently, prevent deterioration in the operational reliabilityof the water supply system 50 due to water leakage.

The water tank unit 170 includes an inlet hole 171 for introduction ofthe purified water, a water storage space 175 in which the purifiedwater introduced through the inlet hole 171 is stored, and an outlethole 173, through which the purified water stored in the water storagespace 175 is discharged to be supplied to the ice-making unit 30 and/orthe dispenser 40.

The inlet hole 171 of the water tank unit 170 communicates with theoutlet path 153 of the filter unit 120 through a connecting pipe 119,and the outlet hole 173 is connected to the second water supply pipe 54through an outlet pipe 117.

The water storage chamber 175 of the water tank unit 170 may be providedwith a guidance pipe 172 to guide the water, having passed through theinlet hole 171, into the water storage chamber 175.

The guidance pipe 172 has an entrance 172 a that communicates with theinlet hole 171 and an exit 172 b that communicates with the waterstorage chamber 175. The exit 172 b communicating with the water storagechamber 175 may be located at an opposite side of the outlet hole 173through which the water stored in the water storage chamber 175 isdischarged.

With this configuration, the water introduced through the inlet hole 171begins to be stored in the water storage chamber 175 starting from afront surface 175 a of the water storage chamber 175. Accordingly, asthe water is stored in the water storage chamber 175 and is cooled bycold air supplied into the storage compartment, the cooled water nearthe outlet hole 173 may be supplied into the ice-making unit 30 and thedispenser 40. In conclusion, only the cooled water of the water storedin the water storage chamber 175 may be supplied into the ice-makingunit 30 and the dispenser 40 through the outlet hole 173.

The front surface 175 a of the water storage chamber 175 is arrangedfacing the exit 172 b of the guidance pipe 172 from which the water isdischarged into the water storage chamber 175 and thus, may be curved todisperse a pressure of the water discharged thereto.

Accordingly, it may be possible to prevent damage to the water tank unit170 due to the pressure of water discharged from the exit 172 b of theguidance pipe 172 arranged facing the front surface 175 a of the waterstorage chamber 175.

Although the present embodiment illustrates the outlet path 153 of thefilter unit 120 as communicating with the inlet hole 171 of the watertank unit 170 for a reduction in the length of a water supply pipe, thepurified water discharged through the outlet path 153 of the filter unit120 may also be introduced into the water supply valve 55 (see FIG. 1),such that the purified water is supplied into the water tank unit 170after a supply amount of the purified water is regulated by the watersupply valve 55.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a configuration to install the waterpurifying unit into the refrigerating compartment according to theembodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the water purifying unit 100 is installed adjacentto one sidewall 16 of the refrigerating compartment 11. For convenienceof installation, connector units 180 are provided at the rear wall 17 ofthe refrigerating compartment 11 under the storage container cover 60 atpositions respectively corresponding to the inlet pipe 115 and theoutlet pipe 117 of the water purifying unit 100.

The connector units 180 are connected respectively to ends of the firstand second water supply pipes 53 and 54. As the inlet pipe 115 and theoutlet pipe 117 of the water purifying unit 100 are coupled to therespective connector units 180, the first and second water supply pipes53 and 54 are connected respectively to the inlet pipe 115 and theoutlet pipe 117.

The connector units 180 may take the form of, e.g., a conventionalone-touch fitting unit or quick-connector, to allow the inlet pipe 115and the outlet pipe 117 to be coupled to the connector units 180 in aone-touch operation.

The water storage chamber 175 of the water tank unit 170 may be providedwith a guidance pipe 172 to guide the water, having passed through theinlet hole 171, into the water storage chamber 175.

The guidance pipe 172 has an entrance 172 a that communicates with theinlet hole 171 and an exit 172 b that communicates with the waterstorage chamber 175. The exit 172 b communicating with the water storagechamber 175 may be located at an opposite side of the outlet hole 173through which the water stored in the water storage chamber 175 isdischarged.

With this configuration, the water introduced through the inlet hole 171begins to be stored in the water storage chamber 175 starting from afront surface 175 a of the water storage chamber 175. Accordingly, asthe water is stored in the water storage chamber 175 and is cooled bycold air supplied into the storage compartment, the cooled water nearthe outlet hole 173 may be supplied into the ice-making unit 30 and thedispenser 40. In conclusion, only the cooled water of the water storedin the water storage chamber 175 may be supplied into the ice-makingunit 30 and the dispenser 40 through the outlet hole 173.

The front surface 175 a of the water storage chamber 175 is arrangedfacing the exit 172 b of the guidance pipe 172 from which the water isdischarged into the water storage chamber 175 and thus, may be curved todisperse a pressure of the water discharged thereto.

Accordingly, it may be possible to prevent damage to the water tank unit170 due to the pressure of water discharged from the exit 172 b of theguidance pipe 172 arranged facing the front surface 175 a of the waterstorage chamber 175.

As is apparent from the above description, in a refrigerator accordingto the embodiments of the present invention, a water purifying unit isprovided between a storage container and one sidewall of a storagecompartment, or between a plurality of storage containers. Thisinstallation of the water purifying unit may enhance space utility ofthe storage compartment and also, may reduce a freezing possibility ofwater stored in a water tank unit. Thus, a separate heater for the watertank unit may be unnecessary, resulting in a reduction in manufacturingcosts.

Further, in the refrigerator according to the embodiments of the presentinvention, the water purifying unit includes the water tank unit and afilter unit integrally formed with each other. This integralconfiguration may reduce a length of a water supply pipe andconsequently, simplify assembly configuration of a water supply system.

Furthermore, the refrigerator according to the embodiments of thepresent invention include a detachable filter assembly, achieving easyreplacement of the filter assembly and enhanced user convenience.Moreover, providing a valve assembly to prevent leakage of water duringreplacement of the filter assembly may enhance the operationalreliability of the water supply system.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in these embodiments without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refrigerator, comprising: a water tank to storewater purified by a filter; and a valve assembly to be coupled to thewater tank through a connecting portion having a part arranged in adirection different from a longitudinal axis of the water tank, thevalve assembly being configured to be couplable to the filter and toreceive water from a water supply source to be purified by the filterwhile the filter is coupled to the valve assembly, the valve assemblyincluding one or more shutter members and one or more elastic members,the one or more shutter members configured to: close a communicationpath through which water from the water supply source flows toward thefilter while elastic force of the one or more elastic members is appliedto the one or more shutter members due to decoupling of the filter fromthe valve assembly, open the communication path through which water fromthe water supply source flows toward the filter responsive torestoration of the elastic force due to coupling of the filter to thevalve assembly, wherein a space is arranged inside the refrigerator toaccommodate an arrangement of the water tank, the valve assembly, andthe filter while the filter is coupled to the valve assembly, so thatwhile the filter is coupled to the valve assembly, the water tank ishorizontally extended along the filter, the water tank is verticallyarranged with respect to the filter, and the water tank is parallel tothe filter within the space, and wherein the valve assembly is couplableto the water tank.
 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a holding member provided to the valve assembly and arrangedto support at least a part of the filter while the filter is coupled tothe valve assembly.
 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, whereinthe water tank is positioned above the filter while the filter iscoupled to the valve assembly.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim 1,wherein an outlet of the valve assembly and an inlet of the water tankare connected by a connector line that includes a vertical portion. 5.The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the valve assemblycomprises: a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a valve unitcomprising the one or more shutter members and arranged to be movablewithin the housing, wherein the valve unit is configured to linearlymove away from the inlet and the outlet while the communication path isbeing closed, and the valve unit is configured to linearly move towardthe inlet and the outlet while the communication path is being opened.6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the valve assembly isin a filter mode while the communication path is open, and the valveassembly is in a bypass mode while the communication path is closed. 7.The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the filter includes atleast one coupling protrusion to be directly coupled to the valve unit,while the filter is coupled to the valve assembly.
 8. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 5, wherein the one or more elastic members areconfigured to apply the elastic force to the valve unit while thecommunication path is being opened and to restore the elastic forcewhile the communication path is being closed.
 9. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 1, wherein the space accommodating the water tank,the valve assembly and the filter while the filter is coupled to thevalve assembly is provided in a refrigerated portion.
 10. Therefrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the water tank includes: aninlet for receiving water into the water tank and an outlet fordischarging water from the water tank, and a guidance pipe disposed inthe water tank and extending from the inlet of the water tank.